Rwanda: US$ 25 Million for Rural Water and Sanitation Programme

Tunis, 1 July 2009 – Rwanda will receive US$ 24.76 million (UA* 16 million) in the form of grants to finance the second phase of the country’s second 2009-2012 Rural Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Sub-Programme (PNEAR).

The funding, comprising a UA 10 million African Development Fund (ADF) grant and a UA 6 million grant from the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative (RWSSI) Trust Fund, was approved by the ADF Executive Board on Wednesday in Tunis.

The PNEAR aims at improving drinking water supply services in 216 rural localities in the North, West and South provinces; improving household sanitation services in 216 rural localities, and community sanitation services in 15 districts. The overall goal is to provide rural communities with sustainable drinking water supply and sanitation services to improve their health and living conditions.

It involves the construction of 16,000 new individual latrines for the most vulnerable families; 130 new multi-compartment latrines and 100 storm-water harvesting reservoirs in village public infrastructures (schools, health centres and other public places); and the training of 500 masons on latrine construction techniques.

Other outputs include the training of 250 female outreach workers and 100 school teachers on hygiene in villages; provision of a large drinking water supply network covering 150 km; constructing 10 medium water supply scheme networks covering 275 km; developing 1000 drinking water supply sources fitted with laundry tubs; training 200 district borehole drillers in the maintenance of water facilities; training 10 private operators in the operation and maintenance of complex water supply systems; and conducting outreach and sensitization campaigns in 216 localities in the three provinces concerned with the programme.

The project is consistent with the government’s sector strategy and policy. As an integral part of the national programme, it is also aligned with the country’s 2020 Vision, which seeks to provide full access to drinking water for the rural dwellers by 2020 as well as an optimal use of water resources and adequate access to water and sanitation services for all. It is in line with the country’s 2008-2012 economic development and poverty reduction strategy (EDPRS), which gives priority access to adequate services and sanitation to the people, as well as the use of water to promote income-generating activities to alleviate poverty.

The Programme is also in harmony with the Bank’s Vision and strategic plan to support the government’s fight against poverty by developing infrastructure and providing adequate access to drinking water and sanitation services. It is fully consistent with the Bank’s Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative (RWSSI).

The direct beneficiaries of the sub-programme are the inhabitants of the 15 districts who account for 5.05 million of the country’s 9.7 population.

The sub-programme is estimated at UA 20.265 million. The ADF funding will cover 79% of the costs while the government and the beneficiary community will provide UA 3.254 million or 16%, and UA 1.011 million or 5% of the total cost, respectively.